Being Mindful of Your Mental and Emotional Health During COVID-19: 11 Essential Tips

Category: Healthy Living

Author

Posted on April 10, 2020

Vanessa is a health writer and blogging expert. Her specialities are medicine, health and wellness. She is proud to call Vancouver, BC her home where she enjoys the ocean and mountains with her dog Mr. ChowChow.



mental and emotional health

Knowledge isn’t always power. Information about the growing COVID-19 pandemic is causing rising anxiety in people around the world.

As the virus spreads through major cities, self-quarantine presents new mental and emotional health challenges. Here are 11 essential tips for managing your anxiety and working on your mental and emotional health through this difficult time.

1. Sanitize

The CDC recommends daily cleaning of high contact surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. These high contact surfaces include light switches, doorknobs, and remote controls.

Disinfecting your home daily is a great way to stay active around the house and prevent the potential spread of the virus. Wipe down any surfaces that come in contact with food with a disinfectant spray or bleach-water solution.

2. Avoid Information Overhaul

It’s important to stay informed throughout the COVID-19 crisis. But too much information just leads to more anxiety.

Stick to reliable, practical information that relates to your current situation. Replaying the same news around the world won’t bring you any comfort.

By focusing on what you can control, you are empowering your mental and emotional health.

3. Stay In Touch

Isolation worsens feelings of anxiety and stress. Find ways to safely stay in contact with friends and family.

FaceTime, Zoom meetings and phone calls help you stay connected to the people you love. Talk to someone you love about your fears or anger if you find yourself wanting to vent.

4. Join A Virtual Dance Party

Instagram parties have become all the rage during the shelter in place mandates. DJ D-Nice launched Club Quarantine which quickly became a viral sensation.

Public figures like Joe Biden and Oprah Winfrey are said to have joined in the global dance party that included more than 100,000 participants.

5. Volunteer

Get mobilized to support healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. If you have any sewing experience, making face masks could be a great way to stay busy and volunteer during the COVID-19 crisis. There are online tutorials for anyone who is looking to contribute.

6. Yoga

A good way to quiet the mind during any time of stress is through yoga. Yoga sessions can be found for free online on YouTube and social media channels.

Connect with your yoga instructor for a virtual session for more personalized attention.

7. Cardio

Getting your blood flowing can help your heart while improving your mental and emotional health. Go up and down the steps in your home, take a walk through the neighborhood or try Zumba to get your heart rate up.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of cardio each day to release the endorphins you need to stay in good spirits.

8. Keep A Routine

Set a schedule the resembles normal daily life. This will help keep anxiety at bay by making you feel more secure about your surroundings.

You may have to make minor tweaks but try to maintain the same breakfast, lunch, dinner and workout schedule you kept before the quarantine.

If you’re working remotely, request the same weekly check-ins with your boss to stay on track with deadlines. Start and end your workday at the same time even if your employer loosens restrictions on projects you’re working on because of the pandemic.

9. Mental And Emotional Health Detox

Monitor your feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can detox your mental and emotional health by staying away from stress triggers.

If you already know these triggers, find ways to avoid these actions or information while in quarantine. Stress is often heightened during isolation which means you might feel twice as sad or lonely if you experience any triggers.

Practice meditation or prayer to help you still any unwanted thoughts. There are free apps available like Calm or Headspace that teach you how to meditate and destress.

10. Finish A Project

Tackle a project you’ve been meaning to get around to but haven’t found time. Quarantine presents an opportunity to get laser-focused on a goal or hobby you want to accomplish.

If you don’t have a specific goal in mind, consider sampling a few new hobby ideas like learning to draw or taking an online graphic design course. Being creative is a good way to lose time and calm your emotions.

Now is a good time to launch any online business ideas especially if they make life easier for others during the quarantine.

11. Mow The Lawn

Another way to improve your mental and emotional health is by gardening or landscaping. Getting fresh air and sunlight will give you the energy boost you need to create a beautiful looking yard.

Mowing the yard or pulling up weeds is a great form of exercise that pays off in the end. Use a local delivery or pickup service to get any gardening supplies you need.

Avoid trying to tackle all outdoor projects in one day. Spreading out your activities makes the task more manageable and keeps you busy day after day.

If you don’t have a yard, starting an indoor container garden is also a great way to interact with nature.

Find Peace In A Pandemic With Focus on Mental and Emotional Health

Taking care of your mental and emotional health during a time of crisis is the best way to avoid making the situation worse. Fear can lead to bad decision making that only increases your level of anxiety.

When the pandemic is over, you don’t want to end up with more problems than you started with. Follow the advice of local authorities on curfews and other lockdown mandates.

If your anxiety becomes too much to manage, consider reaching out to a licensed professional. There are telehealth services available to provide emergency support to those experiencing extreme mental distress.

For more information and health tips, check our blog for updates.

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